Harassment Emails - what can I do to stop someone sending them to me?

[nannynick]

Hi, I am looking for advice with regard to emails being sent to me.

I have been receiving emails from someone for 2 years. The emails are of an unfriendly nature and are intermittent. There can be periods of time, sometimes many months, between each email.

The latest arrived at 19:27 today (24-April-2007) and I have forwarded it to abuse@btinternet (traced the IP and it originated on the BT network) and also copied it to my local police. Previously I have contacted my local police, but they didn't help. So this time, I hope they will start to take more notice... as it has escalated to being emails and occasional packages sent via royal mail. The packages alas can not be traced, as they are samples from companies, thus can be requested by anyone.

Anyone have any advice?

Will the police deal with this under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, or is it just not of much interest to them, until this person comes to my home and kills me?

Firstly, The Malicious Communication Act, 1998, Section 1 states that it?s illegal to ?send an indecent, offensive or threatening letter, electronic communication or other article to another person?.

The second act is very similar. The Communications Act 2003. Section 127 states clearly that it?s illegal to ?send by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character or causes any such message or matter to be so sent.?

Furthermore, ?A person is guilty of an offence if, for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety to another, he sends by means of a public electronic communications network, a message that he knows to be false, causes such a message to be sent or persistently makes use of a public electronic communications network.?

Well, that?s pretty clear. If the police don?t act on this, you have two courses open. First is to kick the police into action. Write to the Chief Constable threatening a referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). Even the most reluctant police chief won?t relish such negative press as they?re often politically driven individuals looking to protect their future pensions!

The second option is to instruct a solicitor. Don?t be put off by the money involved here as many business, household and car insurance policies now cover legal advice costs and often action costs, too. These costs can be recoverable from the other party, anyway.

Above all, we should recognise that we all live in a closely-bound society that is very easy to disrupt by antisocial behaviour like this. It?s our duty to protect those around us from the cowardly actions of such individuals. Don?t turn a blind eye or let them get away with it - and that includes lazy policemen!

You may want to also look at WHOA's (working to stop online abuse) website:-

www.haltabuse.org

they do prosecyte too
many a bloke has regretted texts like " you rakign cunt i hate oyu and im going to kill you"

oh eys